Closure means for paper cups



Aprilkl, 1939- H. GOLD 2,153,041

CLOSURE MEANS FOR PAPER CUPS Filed April 9, 1958 \NVENTOR War/ 7 m Gold,J M;

ORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1939 2,153,041 CLOSURE MEANS FOR PAPER CUPSHerman Gold, New York, N. Y., assignor to Breakstone Bros, Inc.,

poration of Delaware New York, N. Y., a cor- Application April 9, 1938,Serial No. 201,174

4 Claims.

This invention relates to paper receptacles such as cups or the like, orcups used for containing liquids such as milk, cream, ice cream, etc.The

object of the invention is to provide a means and method for sealing orclosing the top of the receptacle by a disk-like cap or cover wherebyinadvertent displacement of said cap or cover during handling, shipping,or general use of the receptacle will be effectively prevented.

More particularly, the invention relates to a cup having, preferably,but not necessarily, a rolled or beaded top and having an annular grooveor recess located a short distance below the top of the receptacle andwithin which the edge of a flat sealing disk or closure cap is adaptedto enter with a snap engagement. The engagement of the edge of the diskwith the annular groove in the body of the cup is such as to providemeans for rather securely holding the cap in sealing position, yet manyinstances have occurred, particularly when the contents of the cup areliquid or semi-liquid, where the caps have been displaced out of theirretaining grooves and the contents of the cup wasted or spoiled. Theinven- 5 tion therefore contemplates the provision of .1 means by whicha double securement of the cap l rfljon its seat in the cup ismaintained. That is to say, the cap will have its edge entered withinthe retaining groove in the cup in the conventional manner, and thenportions of the cup body, disposed between said groove and the top ofthe cup, are indented or depressed at a plurality of spaced pointsaround the edge of the cup to cause portions of the cup lie the cap anddefinitely co-operate with the cap-retaining groove in holding the capseated in its sealing position.

In the accompanying drawing, bodiment of the invention is shown, sideelevation, with parts in section, of 'a cup or receptacle with itsclosure cap in place, prior to wherein an em-.

the indenting of the portions of the cup above the cap; Fig. 2 is a planview of the structure'off similar to Fig. 1, showing Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is aview the edge or rim of the cup indented to securely hold the closurecap seat; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same.

In the drawing, I shows a paper cup of conventional form such as usedfor holding liquids; semiliquids and the like. The upper edge or rim 2of the cup is rolled outwardly or beaded, as shown at 3 to reinforce thecup and provide a smooth, rounded top edge.

Situated a short dis rim or top edge of the cup ance below the roundedlocated over the cap to over-' Fig. 1 15a in position in its annular isan annular recess or groove 4 forming a seat for the reception of theperipheral edge of a flat, disk-like closure cap 5. The tapering sidewalls of the body of the cup enable the cap 5 to be forced into theannular groove 4 with a snap" action so that the 5 edge of the disk 5 isfirmly gripped in the groove and the cap thus held in sealed position inthe top of the cup. To provide a further means of securement for the capand prevent its inadvertent dislodgement from the groove 5 under 10rough handling or during shipment of the filled cup, I indent the rollededge or head 3 of the cup at spaced points, as indicated at B, saidindentations being preferably located at equally spaced points aroundthe rim of the cup. The effect of 15 forming these indentations is toprovide laterally extending projections in the upper edge portion or rimof the cup, or in that portion of the cup located between the cap 5 andthe rim 2. These laterally extending portions 1 overlie the marginaledge portions of the cap and co-operate with the annular groove in verysecurely holding the disk-like closure cap in its seated position in thegroove.

Through the structure described, a double securement of the cap insealed positionis attained. That is, the cap is firmly seated, first, inthe annular groove, and second, is definitely locked in its relationshipwith the groove by the laterally ex- I tending portions 1 of theintermittently indented edge or rim of the cup body.

To facilitate the removal of the cap 5, a pulltab 8 is provided on theupper face of the cap, said tab being affixed to the cap by the staple9.

Throughthe arrangement set forth, a very secure afllxment of the cap insealed position is assured and rough handling or shipment of the filledcups will not dislodge the cap from its sealed position.

' What I claim is:

1. "A'closuremeans for paper containers comprising a. cup having arolled top edge, an annular groove'formed in'the body of the cup belowthe edge, a flat sealing disk having its edge seated in said groove, therolled top edge of the cup above the. groove being formed with aplurality of indentations to cause portions of said edge to overlie thecap and co-operate with the groove in holding the cap in sealingposition in the cup.

.2. A closure means for paper containers comprising a cuphaving a rolledtop edge, an annulargroove. formed in the body of the cap a shortdistance below'the rolled edge, a flat sealing disk having. itsperipheral edge seated in said groove, 55

the rolled top edge of the cup above the groove erally extended tooverlie the cap and co-operate being formed with a plurality of spacedindentawith the groove in holding the cap in sealing positions causingportions of said edge and'portions tion in the cup. of the cup betweensaid edge and the groove to be 4. A closure means for paper containerscom- 5 laterally extended to overlie the cap and co-operprising a cuphaving a top edge, an annular ate with the groove in holding the cap insealing groove formed in the body of the cup slightly beposi ion in thecup. low the edge, a flat sealing disk or cap having its 3. The methodof sealing a paper cup comprisedge seated in said groove. the portion ofthe cup ing seating a flat disk with its peripheral edge situatedbetween the disk and the top edge being 1o disposed in an annular grooveformed in the wall formed with a plurality of indentations to cause 10of the cup near the upper edge thereof, and in said portion to projectinwardly at spaced pointsproviding the upper edge of the cup above theto overlie the cap and co-operate with the groove groove with aplurality of indentations to cause in holding the cap in the sealingposition in the portions of said edge and portions of the cup dlscup.

15 posed between said edge and the groove to be lat- V HERMAN GOLD. 15

